Meanwhile, in the Books and Manuals Section of the Divine Convenience Store, the Sword Fairy, Jiang Jianxin, stood before a tall bookshelf that was labeled Sword-related Manuals.
Despite the seemingly simple layout, she could sense that the manuals before her were anything but ordinary, especially with their seemingly colorful covers. In her eyes, they all seemed to be made with a special method, but in Lin Mo's eyes, they're simply printed in paperbacks and hardcovers. Although there wasn't any indication which one was rarer or more valuable, the ones with hardcovers were usually lost manuals from more renowned sects or individuals.
Among all the manuals that had been bought from the store – including the ones that Liu Xiaoyu picked for Lin Mo – only the Everflowing Serenity Sutra had a hardcover as it came from a lineage with a recorded answerer who passed his Immortal Ascension.
Jiang Jianxin reached out and picked up a slim paperback manual titled [Basic Sword Forms of the Celestial Wind].
The moment her fingers made contact, an invisible force rippled through her meridians and energy channels.
Her eyebrows jumped and her vision flickered.
Before she knew it, the book slipped from her grasp, landing gently back on the shelf and she absentmindedly turned her attention away from it.
Jiang Jianxin narrowed her eyes. She realized that she had forgotten something but couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly.
She glanced at the sword-related manuals on the shelves and it didn't take long before she became fascinated by them once again. The thought of something she had forgotten had also disappeared from her thoughts as she once again repeated the process of scanning the numerous manuals.
One of her fellow Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect cultivators noticed and stepped closer. "Fairy Jiang? Are you alright?"
She raised a hand, signaling them to remain silent. Then, she reached for another manual that piqued her interest. This time, it reads [Profound Sword Shadow Technique].
Once again, she unknowingly put it back to where she picked it up and forgot what she was doing.
When her consciousness returned, a strange light flickered in Jiang Jianxin's eyes.
"So… this is what he meant by 'only the fated can purchase one'..."
This wasn't just a matter of choice. The store itself was selecting who was worthy.
Her lips curved slightly in intrigue as she reached for another manual.
Let's see if fate truly has something in store for me. She thought.
However, before her fingertips managed to touch another manual, a commotion suddenly erupted somewhere within the store.
"You dare cause trouble in the Divine Convenience Store? Do you have a death wish?"
A voice filled with righteous fury rang out, drawing the attention of numerous customers and patrons.
Jiang Jianxin's eyes flickered as she turned toward the source of the commotion, momentarily setting aside her curiosity about the mysterious selection process of the store's manuals.
Near the entrance of the store, a young man clad in sky blue robes embroidered with cloud and sword, stood with a furious expression, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Across from him was a group of cultivators clad in dark gray robes, their expressions indifferent yet brimming with hidden hostility.
Despite the brewing tension, none dared to outright draw their weapons.
Jiang Jianxin naturally recognized the sky blue-robed cultivator. He was a junior disciple of her Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect, one of the many who had accompanied her and other Elders with the mission to be acquainted with the peculiar store.
The gray-robed cultivators, on the other hand, bore the insignia of the Ironclad Blood Sect. It's a sect notorious for its aggressive expansion and ruthless methods. A part of the Neutral Faction and was known to be more overbearing than the Crimson Vale Sect.
A frown dotted Fairy Jiang's features as she stepped forward.
"What happened?" She asked in a calm yet commanding tone. As it involved her junior from the same sect, she couldn't just stand around. If the Shopkeeper decides to kick them out for causing trouble, it will be a loss.
The Cerulean Cloud disciple cupped his fists, his face still dark with anger. "E-Elder Jiang, these Ironclad Blood Sect members attempted to cut in line at the store's counter! When I pointed out their transgression, they arrogantly dismissed me and even mocked the rules of the Divine Convenience Store!"
One of the gray-robed cultivators, a burly man with a scarred face, let out a snort. "Rules? A mere merchant's shop dares to impose rules upon cultivators? What a joke. Be content that we're willing to pay and not rob this store!"
Jiang Jianxin's expression straightened.
While the Divine Convenience Store operated with an air of mystique, one thing had already been made abundantly clear. This place was no ordinary merchant's shop. These fools from the Ironclad Blood Sect were courting trouble themselves.
Several customers had already attested to the store's unfathomable depths, one of which was the recent skirmish against the Poison Demon Cult where its product was said to be the reason why no casualties had been incurred by this side of the conflict. Even high-ranking members of different sects and kingdom officials had begun to treat it with respect.
To openly scorn its rules… was utter folly.
And yet, the arrogance of the Ironclad Blood Sect members remained unshaken.
Liu Xiaoyu, who had been handling the cash register, lazily glanced over. She narrowed her eyes and clicked her tongue.
"Oh? Troublemakers? Should I notify the boss?"
Most customers' ears perked up as they turned to the young woman in the peculiar clothing of green and white stripes, while some tried to look for the figure of Lin Mo, which was surprisingly nowhere to be found.
Jiang Jianxin walked over and clasped her fists, "Miss Assistant, let this Jiang handle this. I apologize for the disturbance caused by my junior's outburst. However, I believe the store's rules should be upheld."
Liu Xiaoyu tapped her chin, pretending to consider it.
"Hmm… You're not wrong. But, you see, our store is very generous. We welcome any customers. Even the Poison Demon Cult members. We usually don't make a big deal about small things." Her gaze sharpened as she turned toward the gray-robed cultivators. "That is, unless someone blatantly disrespects our rules."
The scar-faced man sneered. "Tch. Respect? For what? A merchant shop playing at being something greater?" His gaze swept the store dismissively. "It's a nice trick, sure. But in the end, it's still a place that sells trinkets."
A hushed silence fell over the store. Many facepalmed at the gray-robed cultivators' ignorance and a lot snickered at their foolishness.
They had all been in the Divine Convenience Store long enough to know that ever since its opening, there was only one instance of trouble that befell the store. And that's during the first day. Most customers didn't witness it but word spread about the divine being casually erasing a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator and his followers who tried to rob the store.
Before Liu Xiaoyu could respond, a new voice echoed through the store.
"Oh? A rude customer dares to look down on our store? How brave."
The air instantly grew heavy.
Lin Mo walked in from the deeper part of the store, his expression neutral yet carrying an undeniable weight. His spiritual pressure may be weak but his presence alone made everyone gulp their saliva.
Jiang Jianxin narrowed her eyes as she observed Lin Mo. He's a mere Spirit Condensation Stage cultivator and yet, he could make everyone silent .
Little did she know, Lin Mo was already praying in his head, calculating how he could quell this trouble.
Finally, the loss of [Aura of Harmony] within the story allowed for troublesome cultivators one. According to Liu Xiaoyu's voice transmission, the scar-faced man was an Elder figure of the Ironclad Blood Sect and was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage.
The scar-faced cultivator's sneer faltered for a brief moment before he straightened his back, forcing himself to hold firm. "Hmph. I speak only the truth. No matter how grand you make this store seem, it remains nothing more than a marketplace."
Lin Mo's lips curved into a faint, almost amused smile. He took a step forward, spreading his arms as if he was about to suggest something.
"Heh. Is that so? Then, dear customers, may I ask you to–"
Before Lin Mo could finish his words, Jiang Jianxin's figure flitted forward and subtly bowed to him.
"Shopkeeper, allow me to… deal with this."
Lin Mo didn't expect that.
He was about to declare that they're banned from the store and rely on Yangyang to kick them out and solve the problem. But with Jiang Jianxin offering herself … an idea popped up in his head.
Ever since the opening of the [Divine Arena & Exhibition Hall], it had only been used twice. Once for the exhibition match between Zhou Rui and Yan Wei and another for the [Celestial Duel Platform Alpha Test].
Even with the 50% off for the fee of using the multipurpose hall, no one had yet to rent it for dueling purposes.
Now, here's the opportunity.
Lin Mo's gaze rested on Jiang Jianxin for a moment before a slow smile spread across his lips.
"Fairy Jiang, are you suggesting that this matter be resolved through a duel?" He asked amiably as his lips curved up into a sly smile.